Car classification

European car classification

Car classification in Europe is not officially regulated, instead, it is defined in relative size with other cars. Since 1990s, the cars in Europe are growing in length with about 10-20 cm per model change. Seems that all European companies wants to make a car bigger than competitor’s cars of same class, increasing car class standards with about 2 cm per year, which is exaggerate, based on technology evolution, 5 mm per year is enough. Read more: Car Evolution.

EuroNCAP

My own classification(translated german)

Germanyclassification

United Kingdomclassification

United Statesclassification

France
classification

Typical sizeas 2010s

A

Micro car

Kleinstwagen

Micro car

–

Micro-citadine

<3500 mm

Mini car

Kleinstwagen

City car

–

Citadine

3600 mm

B

Small car

Kleinwagen

Supermini

Subcompact car

Polyvalente

4000 mm

C

Compact car

Kompaktklasse

Small family car

Compact car

Compacte

4400 mm

D

Medium car

Mittelklasse

Large family car

Compact car

Familiale

4700 mm

E

Large car

Obere Mittelklasse

Executive car

Mid-size car

Routière

4900 mm

F

Luxury car

Oberklasse /
Luxusklasse

Luxury car

Full-size car

Limousine

5100 mm

Superluxury car

Oberklasse

Luxury car

Full-size car

Ultra-luxueuse

>5400 mm

M

Small MPV

Minivan

Mini MPV

–

Minispace

4100 mm

Compact MPV

Kompaktvan

Compact MPV

–

Monospace
compacte

4400 mm

Medium MPV

Van

MPV

Minivan

Monospace

4700 mm

Large MPV

Van

MPV

Minivan

Monospace

5000 mm

Minibus

Kleinbus

Minibus

Full-size van

Minibus

>5000 mm

Leisure activity
vehicle

Hochdachkombi

Leisure activity
vehicle

–

Ludospace

any

S

Roadster /
Sport compact

Sportcoupé /
Roadster

Roadster

Roadster

Petite sportive

100-300 PS

Sport car

Sportwagen

Sport car

Sport car

Sportive

200-500 PS

Grand tourer

Gran turismo

Grand tourer

Grand tourer

Grand tourisme

500+ PS

Supercar

Supersportwagen

Supercar

Supercar

Supercar

500+ PS

J

Off-road vehicle

Geländewagen

Off-road vehicle

?

?

any

Small SUV

Geländewagen

Mini SUV

Subcompact SUV

SUV

4100 mm

Compact SUV

Geländewagen

Compact SUV

Compact SUV

SUV

4400 mm

Medium SUV

Geländewagen

Medium SUV

Compact SUV

SUV

4600 mm

Large SUV

Geländewagen

Large SUV

Mid-size SUV

SUV

4900 mm

Luxury SUV

Geländewagen

Luxury SUV

Full-size SUV

SUV

5100 mm

American car classification

American cars in 1940s and 1950s were one-size, about 5 meters long.

The 1950 Nash Rambler being 4500 mm long started the new “compact” segment while normal cars were named full-size. Since early 1960s, most manufacturers launched compact cars, and during mid-1960s the mid-size cars were added between compact and full-size.

American cars are limited to 2032 mm width (80 in) and most full-size 1960s and 1970s cars had this width. Nowadays cars are 1800-1900 mm wide.

I have included car classes in my databases, but beware, they are official only for cars produced in US, imported cars often fall between car classes so each person may categorize them differently (example: Mazda CX-7 – quote from Wikipedia: “Sales of the CX-7 were mediocre, as it slotted between the sizes of compact and midsize crossovers, so it was not competitive in either category“.

Many imported cars, growing over years, migrated between classes (example: Nissan Maxima, a “large car” by European classification, fitted in american “compact” during 1980s but meantime it grew, the 2004 Nissan Maxima falls between mid-size and full-size). During 1970s, some European medium cars were considered subcompact by american standards, but during 2000s decade the European “medium car” became similar in size with American “mid-size car”, same for compact.

Note about height: Europe classify as MPV the cars over 1600 mm height while United States classify as Minivan the cars over 1700 mm height, so the Small / Compact MPVs from Europe that are around 1600-1700 mm tall, when imported to USA they are classified as hatchbacks.

Japanese car classification

Japan is the ONLY country in the world where car tax system is based on vehicle dimensions, thus encouraging manufacturers to stick under some limits…

“Kei cars” are currently limited at 3400 mm length and 1480 mm width, and 64 horsepower.
Most popular are “compact cars”, up to 4700 mm length and 1700 mm width.
Any car model above this limit is heavily taxed.

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